Here’s How Much Healthcare Costs in the 5 Healthiest States (and the 5 Least Healthy)

America is nothing if not a diverse country. Unfortunately, part of its diversity comes in the form of healthy living. While some states score well above the national average in terms of being healthy, others have a lot of work to do to catch up. 

To determine which states are the healthiest and least healthy, America’s Health Rankings conducted a survey in 2023 encompassing 87 measures from 28 distinct data sources, including mental health, access to care and chronic diseases. The survey also factored in how the impact that public health policies and socioeconomic factors may have on overall health outcomes.

Once the rankings of healthiest and least-healthy states were determined from the America’s Health Rankings survey, GOBankingRates used data from Sperling’s BestPlaces to calculate how much healthcare actually costs in each of these cities on a relative basis. The average amount spent per capita in the United States as a whole was $11,172, according to World Population Review using 2018 data.

The results of this analysis are presented below, divided by healthy and least-healthy states. States are ranked in order in each division, with the healthiest and least-healthy states listed first in each subsection.

Healthcare costs in the five healthiest states in America run the gamut from much cheaper than average to considerably more expensive. This perhaps surprising statistic might make a significant difference to you if you’re looking to live in a healthy state without breaking the bank.

• Healthcare cost of living score: 82.9
• Average cost of healthcare: $9,261.59

• Healthcare cost of living score: 90.2
• Average cost of healthcare: $10,077.14

• Healthcare cost of living score: 128.5
• Average cost of healthcare: $14,356.02

• Healthcare cost of living score: 118.6
• Average cost of healthcare: $13,249.99

• Healthcare cost of living score: 78.3
• Average cost of healthcare: $8,747.68

Overall, healthcare costs in the least-healthy states in America are actually much more expensive than those in the healthiest states. While on the surface this might seem surprising, it actually makes sense because it takes more money to take care of unhealthy people.

• Healthcare cost of living score: 113.2
• Average cost of healthcare: $12,646.70

• Healthcare cost of living score: 101.9
• Average cost of healthcare: $11,384.27

• Healthcare cost of living score: 92.1
• Average cost of healthcare: $10,289.41

• Healthcare cost of living score: 113.8
• Average cost of healthcare: $12,713.74

• Healthcare cost of living score: 118.9
• Average cost of healthcare: $13,283.51